STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Are you thinking of opening a restaurant, deli or liquor store? Or do you live in a neighborhood packed with restaurants or bars? Well, then it's important to know the nuances of two significant New York City laws: The 200- and 500-foot rules under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.

It's fun reading -- I promise! -- especially when you put it in perspective of how Staten Island's vibrant dining scene has developed thus far. It might also lend appreciation to the thoughtfulness that is behind each liquor license application.

Let's start with the 200-foot rule.

The 200-foot rule

(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

The 200-foot rule

This law applies to any operation selling beer, wine and spirits within 200-feet of a school or house of worship.

And that would be a dedicated building housing a school or church, synagogue, etc.

Let's illustrate the matter with an example of a proximity situation on Staten Island. There are two churches within 200-feet of a section with three licensed establishments. You've got a storefront church called "Door of Rufuge Ministries, Inc." on Post Avenue. And see that spire on St. John's Lutheran over on Jewett Avenue behind Town Square Deli?

(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

As its immediate neighbor, the historic church is a stone's throw from the deli which has a rather vast selection of cold beer. Additionally, there is a deli and grocery across from Town Square Deli that also sells the suds.

But for both churches and schools, the 200-foot law does not apply to grocery stores that sell wine and beer. (Can you show us a deli across from or near a Staten Island school that doesn't serve beer?)

Now, if a store front church, for instance, rents an apartment somewhere in its building then it doesn't fall under this rule as well. By the mixed use of the square footage, it is not exclusively used as a house of worship.

On another church note: There is a liquor store diagonally across the street from St. John's in Port Richmond. It appears to be a small measure outside of 200-feet from the church so it doesn't count. And, since first came the liquor store, then came Door of Refuge. Thusly, long live Jewett Liquor & Wine Boutique!

The Cliff Notes version of the 500-foot rule

Staten Island Advance

The Cliff Notes version of the 500-foot rule

This particular rule is something with which residents of commercial hubs like New Dorp, St. George and West Brighton might be familiar...or not. So, in a nutshell, the rule prohibits more than three booze licenses within a 500-foot radius of each other.

Now, history shows that it is fairly unusual for the State Liquor Authority to dispute a license application unless there is "good cause."

And note that the 500-foot rule doesn't apply to places open since Nov. 1, 1993 or for older businesses who have applied for renewals and/or have undergone ownership changes. Basically, an existing liquor license is respected and left intact in any city, town or village "with a population of less than 20,000."

If you want to get more detailed, read on. (If not, flip to the next slide.)

If you're reading on...

Under certain statutes of the liquor laws, if you serve liquor, wine and beer for on-premise consumption -- we're talking hotels with dining, restaurants, catering halls, certain clubs, party boat or other vessel and aircraft -- then you have to have a kitchen.

However, for places that are mainly drinking establishments, no cooking space is necessary. That situation is fine in the case of bars, nightclubs and taverns. Licensed theaters and entertainment halls can also serve booze so long as they served some kind of food. (Hence the joke about keeping the ol' ham sandwich behind the bar.) Places like this can rely on appropriately licensed food neighbors for grub in the pub.

We've got "restaurant-brewer" licenses which, as the name suggests, a food venue can "brew a limited amount of beer on the premises."

Then there's license for "large nightclubs" with over 600 people or more with "musical entertainment, singing, dancing or other forms of entertainment." ("Other" entertainment...Anyone remember turtle races at bars back in the day?)

As the SLA points out, this kind of cabaret license "should not be confused with the cabaret permit issued by the City of New York" which was once a contentious thing particularly under the Giuliani administration, a story for another day.

West Brighton has a vibrant restaurant and bar strip on Forest Avenue.

(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

West Brighton has a vibrant restaurant and bar strip on Forest Avenue.

The section is remarkable because of its heavy concentration of liquor licenses. You've got two liquor stores, several bars and the ability to buy cold one or six-pack from Silver Lake Bagels (aka "Rana's") to Bagel Bin to Key Food, all within a few blocks.

SLA spokesman William Crowley summed it all up for us with these words: "The 500-foot law, if there are three or more currently licensed establishments within 500 feet of the proposed application, the SLA must find that it is in the public interest to issue the license."

Said Joe Carroll, manager of Community Board 1: "There are often CB objections but the last word is SLA."

How do people know when a liquor license is up for review?

"All applications for bars, restaurants and taverns must notify their Community Board 30 days prior to applying to the SLA so that the Community Board may provide their input," explained Crowley. "Under the law, the SLA must hold a 500 Foot Hearing on all applications that fall under this provision."